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Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 4.2.2.8

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP considers biosecurity risks specific to the types of handling activities and shall include appropriate biosecurity measures to prevent the transfer of disease.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • For developing a site-specific biosecurity mechanism within the HMP, the UoC should consider:

  • Biosecurity measures related to the type of handling, e.g.:

    • Equipment segregation.

    • Equipment disinfection.

Evidence of Implementation

  • For developing a site-specific biosecurity during handling the HMP includes the considerations for:

    • Site-specific biosecurity mechanism.

    • Biosecurity specifications related to the type of handling operations.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The HMP includes the required minimum considerations above.

  • Employees are:

    • Familiarised with the biosecurity considerations in the HMP by conducting employee interviews and observations.

    • Trained on biosecurity specifications related to the type of handling operations by reviewing employees’ training records, conducting employees’ interviews and observations.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.2.2.7

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using feed The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a visual inspection process to identify abnormal behaviour in relation to the handling activity and defines mitigation measures when identified.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Visual inspection after handling should be included in the HMP.

    • Crustacean morphology and behaviour can be assessed when verifying the crustacean feeding trays as a minimum requirement.

Evidence of Implementation

  • The monitoring process, that incorporates the corrective actions required, included in the HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of the morphology and behaviour at the feeding trays. A checked box on the monitoring records indicating whether monitoring morphology and behaviour took place or not is accepted.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established behavioural monitoring process.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The monitoring process included in the HMP that incorporates corrective actions and is implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.2.2.6

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes acclimatisation measures to prevent sudden changes in water conditions affecting the health and welfare status of the crustaceans.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Acclimatisation measures should be designed and maintained, e.g.:

    • Water temperature during transportation must be as close as possible to that which the crustaceans came from.

    • Crustaceans shall be released into a small area of the pond ‘hapa’ or net enclosures in the grow-out pond itself for a risk-assessed period to evaluate the capacity of the PL to adjust to the pond conditions.

Evidence of Implementation

  • acclimatisation measures and monitoring of the water quality according to HMP.

  • Records that confirm the monitoring of acclimatisation parameters before stocking.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the acclimatisation measures and monitoring process above.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The acclimatisation measures included in the HMP incorporate the minimum required elements and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with relevant records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.2.2.5

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using feed The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes a pond preparation process including at least the following: a) drying of the pond. An exception applies where areas cannot be dried, in which case they shall be disinfected; and b) removal of any dead or live animals from the pond; and c) removal of excess organic material; and d) adjustment of acidic pH; and e) preparation of the surface of earthen ponds to facilitate oxygenation and UV exposure.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Draining the pond completely helps in eliminating unwanted organisms and disease.

  • Areas that cannot be completely drained should be treated with disinfectants to kill any pathogens, e.g.:

    • If a few wet patches are observed after draining the pond, spray these patches with a bleach solution for disinfection, ensuring no harmful bacteria or parasites survive.

  • Removing any dead or living animals helps in preventing disease spread and decay, which can affect the water quality and the health of future pond crops, e.g.:

    • If a few dead crustaceans and some frogs are found, remove all these animals and dispose of them properly, ensuring the pond is free of any potential contaminants.

  • Remove any organic debris such as leaves, branches and sludge. If the pond water is too acidic, agricultural lime (calcium carbonate) may be added to neutralise the pH, making the environment more suitable for crustacean e.g.:

    • After removing leaves and decaying plant matter from the pond bed, the pH level was 5.5. After applying agricultural lime, the pH level rose to approximately 7, a neutral level.

    • Tilling the surface of earthen ponds (those with natural soil bottoms) helps to aerate the soil, promoting better oxygenation. It also exposes the soil to sunlight, which helps in killing pathogens and breaking down organic matter through UV radiation.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Records confirming the monitoring of the required parameters for pond preparation and their conformance with acceptable quality levels included in the HMP prior to stocking.

  • Record of drying period.

  • Record of addition of lime if applied.

  • The water quality monitoring process, that incorporates the minimum elements required for pond preparation.

  • Employees should demonstrate awareness of the established water quality monitoring process during handling.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Pond preparation process, that incorporates the minimum elements required, included in the indicator and cross-checking with the handling operations present in the HMP.

  • Implementation can be verified by cross-checking the process with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.2.2.4

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes consideration of the environmental conditions associated with handling activities, with the intent of preventing handling under adverse conditions that could affect the health and welfare of the crustaceans.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Examples of considerations of external conditions:

    • Avoid handling in the event of storms.

    • Avoid handling crustacean without using a shade net on a sunny day.

  • Avoid transferring post-larvae during periods where there are less than favourable conditions:

    • Rainfall can quickly alter pond conditions and trigger a chain of events resulting in sub-optimal conditions for crustaceans.

    • Potential for Vibrio spp. to flourish, increasing the risks of bacterial infection to the shrimp.

    • Trigger the production of hydrogen sulphide. This is a toxic gas produced by sulphate reducing bacteria and is highly toxic to shrimp.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes consideration for external conditions necessary to perform handling.

  • Records:

    • Weather forecast verification.

    • Employees should demonstrate knowledge of the considerations and the verification of external conditions before handling.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • HMP includes considerations for external conditions for handling and are implemented.

  • Implementation can be confirmed by cross-checking the HMP with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

Indicator 4.2.2.3

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP includes contingency plans for handling activities, including at least the following: a) immediate response measures in the case of system failure; and b) culling response measures (see Indicators 4.2.3.2 and 4.2.3.7); and c) mass mortality event response measures. Exception applicability: every UoC using feed An exception to (b) applies in the extreme circumstances of culling whole ponds for disease control, in which case a solution of chlorine is allowed in a concentration that ensures that death occurs rapidly.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The contingency plans should consider:

    • Identification of potential failures.

  • Effective corrective measures, e.g.:

    • Backup power generators.

    • Oxygen support.

Evidence of Implementation

  • HMP includes processes’ contingency plans.

  • Records:

    • Backup system testing.

    • Additional oxygen source available.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The HMP includes considerations on crustacean health and welfare before handling events, including considerations for the existence of a backup system.

  • Presence of a backup system.

  • Employees are:

    • Familiarised with the contingency plans by conducting employee interviews and observations.

  • Records:

    • Backup system testing.

Indicator 4.2.1.12

Requirement

The UoC shall report to ASC survival rate, according to ASC data submission procedures, following the method outlined in Appendix 12 (12.5.1).

Indicator 4.2.1.11

Requirement

The UoC shall calculate stocking densities, following the method outlined in Appendix 12 (12.5.4).

Indicator 4.2.1.10

Requirement

The UoC shall report to the relevant authorities if a WOAH-notifiable disease is confirmed at a site, and shall: a) apply the measures according to applicable legal requirements; and b) increase disease-monitoring in other batches of crustaceans; and coordinate oversight by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Upon a WOAH-notifiable disease being confirmed, the UoC should consider within its response mechanism included in the HWMP (see Indicator 4.2.1.8) an emergency response procedure for culling the affected batches of crustaceans (see also Indicator 4.2.1.8.4).

Evidence of Implementation

  • HWMP includes site-specific disease monitoring, responses and reporting requirements.

    • Specific considerations should be given to WOAH-notifiable diseases, including an emergency response procedure for culling the affected batches of crustaceans.

  • National regulations.

  • Records:

    • Reporting to the authorities.

    • Measures applied.

    • Notification to other sites in the vicinity or the ABM.

    • Disease monitoring.

    • Veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional coordination.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The HWMP includes considerations for WOAH-notifiable diseases (see interpretation for Indicator 4.2.1.8.4).

  • In case a WOAH-notifiable disease has been confirmed:

    • Reporting to authorities and implementation of regulatory measures.

    • Increased monitoring of other batches of crustaceans.

    • Veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional coordination

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.2.1.9

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using feed The UoC shall report the following to a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional: a) all mortality events; and b) crustacean health and welfare concerns identified during mortality classification.